Volunteer tutors are needed at the Drake University Adult Literacy Center to help local residents improve their reading skills.
“Tutoring an adult is a way to have a direct and positive impact in another person’s life,” said Anne Murr, coordinator of the center.
Anyone interested in becoming a tutor is invited to attend the next orientation program. The program will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, in room 214 of the Drake School of Education, 3206 University Ave.
Both sessions must be attended because they provide valuable literacy training in multi-sensory structured teaching for reading and spelling.
Volunteers meet with students twice a week for one-hour, one-on-one sessions at the Adult Literacy Center. Tutors should plan to continue with students for at least one year.
The center now serves 75 adults and more remain on a waiting list. Reading skills of the students range from pre-reading to fourth grade; 15 percent of the students are learning English as a second language.
The Adult Literacy Center has been part of the Drake University School of Education since 1976.
For more information or to register for the orientation session for new tutors, call 515-271-3982 or send an e-mail to anne.murr@drake.edu.